Dorcas McClean Scholarship

This scholarship, worth up to $40,000, supports candidates for admission to an approved institution. Applicants must be between 17 and 25 years of age and residents of Australia in the two years preceding the competition date. Assessment is by competition (for shortlisted applicants only), held across a number of days at the Southbank Campus. This is a triennial competition and will next take place in early 2025. The 2025 competition will be filmed and broadcast. The competition will comprise a preliminary round (assessed by this online application on the basis of video submission), a semi-final round where up to 6 semi-finalists will be selected to present recitals in February, 2025, and, a final round where finalists will present one complete concerto by Mozart on 23 February, 2025. There will be a first prize of $40,000, second prize of $10,000 and third prize of $5,000.

Applications open

10 Apr 2024

Last day for applications

31 Aug 2024
Learn more

Application type

Application required
How to apply

Benefit type

Single payment
Full benefit details

Citizenship requirements

Australian / domestic student
International student

Total value

$5,000 - $40,000

Applicable study areas

Music

Number of scholarships awarded

1

  • Eligibility & selection criteria

    Eligibility

    To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

    • be a violinist aged no older than 25 and no younger than 17 (as of 31 August 2024), and resident in Australia for no less than two years at 31 August 2024.
    • eligible for admission to a course of study at an institution approved by the Academic Board on the recommendation of the head of the school of Music in the faculty; or
    • under the supervision of a teacher approved by the Academic Board on the recommendation of the head of the school of Music; or
    • be a graduate or undergraduate of the University.

    Read the Guidelines for all competition details.

    Selection criteria

    The recipient of this scholarship will be determined by three rounds of performance competition to select a winner from up to six applicants. They will be judged by panels of prominent Australian and international violinists on the basis of musicality, tone, technique, intonation and poise. There will be monetary awards for the second and third placed participants, and a major award for the Dorcas McClean Scholarship recipient.  A set amount of reimbursement will be paid to the shortlisted applicants to assist with the cost of the competition requirements.

  • Application process

    Applications for round 1 are made online via the link below (only visible during the application open phase) and must include:

    • a high-quality online recording of the specified repertoire, with contact details of your teacher or employer for verification of the recording
    • a summary of experience as a musician, including periods and places of professional work
    • relevant education qualifications
    • details of proposed training or study program you intend to undertake
    • contact details of two referees.

    The recordings will be assessed by prominent Australian violinists on musicality, tone, technique, intonation and poise, and six candidates will be selected to advance to round 2. Three finalists will proceed from round 2 to round 3.

    Read the Guidelines (in eligibility section) for all details.

  • When will I know the outcome?

    Applicants can expect an outcome by 30 November whether or not they have been selected to proceed to round two.  The semi-finalists will receive the outcome at the competitions, held on 23 February 2025.

What are the benefits?

A single payment of up to $40,000 towards studies at another institution approved by the University of Melbourne. Runner-up and third-placed candidates will receive $10,000 and $5000 respectively.

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.